[Ontbirds] Ottawa/Gatineau - May 1, 2014 - recent reports

Thu, 01 May 2014 20:22:22 -0700 





Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region)
E. Ontario, W. Quebec
Compiler and transcriber Bob Cermak
[email protected] or [email protected]
recent reports to May 1, 2014

This is Chris Lewis covering for Bob Cermak while he's chasing Eared Grebes and 
Smith's Longspurs at Point Pelee.....

...meanwhile in Ottawa-Gatineau, this week's highlight was a (very rare for 
Ottawa) male HOODED WARBLER discovered on the 27th at Terry Carisse Park along 
the Jock River opposite #3030 Steeple Hill Cres. south of Fallowfield Rd. The 
bird was still present on May 
1st.

Migrant waterfowl continue to move through. On the 25th the flooding in the 
Cobb's Lake Creek area at Russell and Johnston Rds. east of Bourget had receded 
considerably - an estimated 40,000 SNOW GOOSE were in the fields, and countless 
1,000's were in flight. 
Among the flock on the ground was an adult ROSS'S GOOSE, several thousand 
NORTHERN PINTAIL, as well as good numbers of GREEN-WINGED TEAL and RING-NECKED 
DUCK. By the 28th, the fields were virtually dry with very few waterfowl. On 
the Quebec side of 
the 
Ottawa River at Parc National du Plaisance on the 27th there was a GREATER 
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and a few CACKLING GOOSE. A group of 5 CACKLING GOOSE were 
reported from the Carp River southeast of Carp back on the 21st, and singletons 
continue to be 
reported in scattered locations. A flock of 10 BRANT, early for our region, 
were seen and heard flying over Canaan Rd. east of Ottawa on the 26th.

Two or three GREAT EGRET have returned to the breeding colony on Conroy Island 
in the Deschenes rapids of the Ottawa River, and sightings of single birds 
along with BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON that also breed in this colony came from 
across the river Mud 
Lake 
in the Britannia Conservation Area. Raptor observations included several 
reports of BALD and GOLDEN EAGLE - 6 BALD EAGLE were at Plaisance on the 27th, 
single GOLDEN EAGLE flew over areas both east and west of Ottawa from the 25th 
and 28th and 2 adults 
were 
seen flying over south of Ottawa on the 29th. The first local reports of 
BROAD-WINGED Hawk came in on the 24th and a good flight occurred on May 1st - 
at least 35 were seen kettling over the Dunrobin area. NORTHERN HARRIER, 
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 
AMERICAN KESTREL and MERLIN were also seen over the past week.

VIRGINIA RAIL are back in their typical breeding habitats. Reports of SANDHILL 
CRANE, mostly individuals in flight, came in from many areas including 
Plaisance, Richmond, Dunrobin, and the Mer Bleue area. Shorebird observations 
included KILLDEER, SPOTTED 
SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, UPLAND SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, WILSON'S 
SNIPE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and an early SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was reported at 
the edge of flooded field on Ramsay Concession 7 approx. 2 km. north of 
Carleton 
Place 
on May 1st. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen on Britannia Bay on May 1st; a single 
bird was previously reported near this location back on April 19th.

A couple of CHIMNEY SWIFT were noted over Britannia on the 29th, and the first 
local reports of EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and GRAY CATBIRD came in on the same day. 
Good numbers of GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET continue to be reported 
along 
with other common expected migrants such as HERMIT THRUSH, BROWN THRASHER, 
PALM, PINE and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, CHIPPING, FIELD, VESPER, SAVANNAH, SWAMP 
and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. A few FOX SPARROW were still around this week. The 
first 
report of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was on the 28th, a flock of 200 RUSTY 
BLACKBIRD were seen near Flag Station Rd in the Manotick/Osgoode area on the 
29th, and a half-dozen EVENING GROSBEAK have been more regular at a feeder on 
the western edge of the 
Larose Forest during the past week.

Due to widespread concerns regarding disturbance of wildlife and property, the 
OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports OWL sightings on the internet. We will 
continue to the encourage the reporting of owls to [email protected] for the 
local records.

Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations.










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